Spiraea plant named ‘Zelda’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Spiraea  plant named ‘Zelda’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; developing leaves that are orange red in color and become yellow green in color with development; numerous dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Spiraea fritschiana×Spiraea japonica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZELDA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea plant, botanically known as Spiraea fritschiana×Spiraea japonica and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zelda’.

The new Spiraea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact and mounding Spiraea cultivars with attractive foliage and flowers.

The new Spiraea plant originated from an open-pollination in 2003 of Spiraea fritschiana ‘Wilma’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,397, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Spiraea japonica, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Spiraea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 2005 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new Spiraea plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the summer of 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Spiraea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Spiraea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zelda’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zelda’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Developing leaves that are orange red in color and become         yellow green in color with development.     -   5. Numerous dark pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Spiraea can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Wilma’. Plants of the new Spiraea differ from plants of ‘Wilma’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea and ‘Wilma’ differ in leaf color as         plants of ‘Wilma’ have green-colored developing and fully         expanded leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea have darker pink-colored flowers         than plants of ‘Wilma’.

Plants of the new Spiraea can be compared to plants of an unnamed selection of Spiraea japonica. Plants of the new Spiraea differ from plants of the unnamed selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea are larger than plants of the         unnamed selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea and the unnamed selection differ in         developing leaf color as plants of the unnamed selection have         red-colored developing leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Spiraea have larger flowers than plants of         the unnamed selection.

Plants of the new Spiraea can be compared to plants of the Spiraea japonica ‘Gold Flame’, not patented. Plants of the new Spiraea differ from plants of ‘Gold Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea are not as compact as plants of         ‘Gold Flame’.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea and ‘Gold Flame’ differ in         developing leaf color and plants of ‘Gold Flame’ have         red-colored developing leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Spiraea have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Gold Flame’.     -   4. Plants of the new Spiraea and ‘Gold Flame’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Gold Flame’ have darker pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Spiraea plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Spiraea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Zelda’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical developing and fully expanded leaves of ‘Zelda’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence and leaves of ‘Zelda’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Spiraea grown in three-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. during the spring and summer under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Spiraea fritschiana×Spiraea japonica     ‘Zelda’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Spiraea fritschiana ‘Wilma’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,397.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Spiraea             japonica, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to thick, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; compact,             upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about 82             primary lateral branches; pinching (removal of terminal             apices) will enhance lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 65 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 70 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 176A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate to doubly serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 179B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 179B to 179C.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 153C;             venation, close to 177B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146D; venation, close to 181A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single rotate flowers             arranged in compound corymbs; freely flowering habit with             usually about 200 flowers per inflorescence; flowers face             upright to outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from late             spring through the summer in Grand Haven, Mich.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about three to four weeks on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 mm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape:             Globose. Color: Close to 66A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Single whorl of five. Length:             About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; silky. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 66C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 66D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Single whorl of five. Length:             About 1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Subulate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 186A. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 55A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 145A. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 54A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 20° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° to 45° from peduncle             axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:             About 18. Anther shape: Globose. Anther length: About             0.25 mm. Anther color: Close to 64A. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 8D. Gynoecium: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length: About             0.75 mm. Style color: Close to 60B. Stigma appearance:             Globose. Stigma color: Close to 60B. Ovary color: Close to             182C.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Color:             Close to 161C. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Spiraea have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −29° C. to about 37° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Spiraea have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Spiraea. 

1. A new and distinct Spiraea plant named ‘Zelda’ as illustrated and described. 